‘HOME THE SAFEST PLACE TO PREVENT INFECTION’
Health D-G repeats call to people to practise new norms to avoid surge in Covid-19 cases
HEALTH director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah yesterday repeated his call for Malaysians to stay home, practise social distancing and observe new norms, or risk triggering a spike in Covid-19 cases.
“Please stay home, it’s the safest place to prevent Covid-19 infection. (You should) head out only for important dealings. While the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) allows for businesses to resume operations from Monday (tomorrow), it doesn’t mean that all of them will be open then.”
He reminded the public to observe social distancing during outdoor recreational activities.
“As long as we practise social distancing, exercising in an open space is not a problem.
“However, if we find that there are people going out in groups, action will be taken against them.
“Legal actions under Act 342 (the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988) are applicable at the present time,” he said yesterday.
He said the government’s effort to flatten the Covid-19 infection curve had proven effective, but it would be meaningless if Malaysians became complacent in their fight against the virus.
“The ministry would like to remind Malaysians that the Covid19 pandemic is not over yet. Around the world, 187 countries have been affected by Covid-19 cases, which have reached 3,343,777 with a death toll of 238,650 people.
“The risk of exponential rise in cases exists if we are not bothered (to take precautions) and do not practise the new norms in our lives.”
He said the new norms included practising social distancing of at least 1m apart from another person, wearing face masks, practising personal hygiene, as well as avoiding crowded places.
“Hence, public cooperation and commitment are important to ensure that we continue to be successful in our fight against the virus.”
He said companies, restaurants or factories that did not comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the government would be ordered to shut down.
“If an infection is detected in an employee, we will close down the business and activate the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) in the facility. The EMCO is not limited to a locality as it can be applied even at the municipal, district and state levels if there’s a need for it.”
He said the EMCO would be enforced on a tahfiz (religious school) in Lanchang, Temerloh, Pahang, following six Covid-19 cases there.
Up to noon yesterday, there were 105 new Covid-19 cases, with 60 new cases detected in areas placed under the EMCO, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 6,176.
Dr Noor Hisham said there were 11 imported cases, while 94 were local transmissions. This brings the number of patients with high transmission risk to 1,747.
He said 31 Covid-19 patient were being treated in the Intensive Care Unit, with 12 requiring ventilator support.
He said 116 patients had made full recovery and were discharged yesterday, bringing the number of recovered cases to 4,326 or 70 per cent of the cumulative cases.
No Covid-19-related fatality was recorded up to noon yesterday.
The death toll now stood at 103 (1.67 per cent of the cumulative cases).